Universal formed metal door frame



Nov. 6, 1951 J. F. PEELLE UNIVERSAL FORMED METAL DOOR FRAME Filed March 28, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. ,2.

JAMES F Pet-4L5,

INVENTOR- ATTORN EY.

1951 J. F. PEELLE UNIVERSAL FORMED METAL DOOR FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1946 m M E a M a NOV. 6, 195] ELL 2,574,350

UNIVERSAL FORMED METAL DOOR FRAME Filed March 28, 194 3 Sheet-Sheet 5 JAMES {F654; E,

INVENTOR- ATTORN EY.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

Broadly speaking, my present invention relates to metal door frames, and more particularly to frames which are formed of sheet metal. I am aware that formed metal frames are old in the art. However, heretofore, each frame has been made and assembled individually to suit the particularly building condition under which the frame was to be used, and manufactured especially for the particular wall condition prevailing at the location of installation. It has been necessary to arrange the frame for an individual type of hardware which had to be suitably located on the frame for the direction of swing of the door with which the frame was to be fitted. Due to the necessity of the frame being manufactured to provide the above-mentioned requirements, the cost of producing frames has been greater than it should be, resulting in a higher cost of building construction.

In order to avoid the undesirable features. set forth above, it is the principal object of the invention to provide formed metal frames having a universal application relative to job conditions and swings of doors.

A second object is the provision of frames which require a minimum of labor in producing the same, and which can be shipped in knockdown condition and permitting the same to be stored in a minimum amount of space.

Another object is the provision of frame members which are comparatively light in weight but which are rigid in construction.

Other particular objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claim.

The most satisfactory manner of carrying out the principles of the invention is shown in the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a formed metal frame embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional detail through the hinge jamb member of the frame, as taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and showing application of the frame to a wood stud wall construction.

Figure 3 is an isometric detail of the upper end portion of one of the jamb members.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the lower end portion of the jamb member.

Figure 5 is a partial detail elevation showing the upper left corner of a frame, with the same being shown in assembled condition.

Figure 6 is an elevational detail of the lower end portion of the same jamb member shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a sectional-plan view of the head member taken below the inwardly-turned flanges formed along the upper edges thereof, and showing the apertures formed therein providing for attachment of the upper ends of the jamb members thereto.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail through the end portion of the head member, as taken. on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail section, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 5, and showing the means of securing the upper ends of the jamb members to the head member.

Figure 10 is a partial elevation of the latch jamb member, taken from line l9ill of Figure l, and showing the method of providing a universal means of providing for latch or lock bolts.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical section through the latch jamb, taken on line I I -l l of Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 are detail sections through the hinge jamb member similar to Figure 2 except with the jambsbeing shown in connection with masonry walls. a

Figure 14 is a detail section through the hinge jamb member, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but showing the iamb in connection with a wall having metal studs, and showing the means of anchorage of the jamb member thereto.

Figure 15 is an isometric detail of the combined tie strap and anchor used in connection with the flanges of the frame and providing means of securing the frame in wood stud and metal stud walls.

Figure 16 is an isometric detail of the combined tie strap and anchor similar to that shown in Figure 15 but with the lu s thereof being shown in position for securing the frame to wood stud wall construction.

Figure 17 illustrates the type of anchors used in connection with masonry wall construction.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the novel features and the advantages of the invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which the same will be more fully set forth.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I and 2 designate hinge and latch jambs respectively while 3 designates the head member of a frame. Both of the jambs and the head member are formed of metal and are of the conventional types. A designates wood studs of which the wall may be constructed, with the same being faced each side with plaster B. C designates a door which, as shown in Figure 2, is hinged to the jamb I by means of hinges 4. Stop members 5 are formed on each of the jambs l and 2, with the stop member 6 being formed on the head member 3.

Each of the iamb members and the head member have perforated inwardly-turned flanges 1 which provide plaster stops, with the perforations 8 forming means through which plaster can extend and thereby providing a means of keying the plaster into the frame.

Each of the jamb members have perforated primary lugs 9 formed at each end thereof with the lugs being formed integrally with the rabbet u portions of the jambs. The lugs 9 of the upper ends of the jambs are adapted to engage apertures II! of the head member 3, after which the lugs are turned inwardly and locking the upper ends of the jambs to their respective ends of the.

head member, as shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 9. It will be noted, by referring to Figures 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, and 14, that the primary lugs}! at the lower ends of the jamb members are turned outwardly toward the wall, and form means through which the lower end portions of the jamb members are secured to the floor construction. Secondary lug members II which are comparatively smaller than primary lugs 9' are formed at the upper and the lower ends of the jamb members, with the secondary lugs I I at the upper ends of the jambs being adapted to engage apertures I2 of the head member, as shown in Figure 9, and with the secondary lugs II being bent over an extension of the head member to provide a second means of locking the upper ends of the jambs to the head member. The secondary lugs I I which are formed at the lower ends of the jambs are adapted to extend into the floor construction, thereby providing an additional means of securing the lower ends of the lambs to the floor construction. If desired, the secondary lugs l I at the lower ends of the jambs can be turned inwardly without extending into the floor construction.

It will be noted that the jamb members, having primary lugs 9 and secondary lugs I I at each end, are reversible with respect to the head member, which permits assembly of the frames at the job for either right hand or left hand swing doors,

which provides universal application of the frame members.

By referring to Figures 10 and 11, it will be noted that portions of the latch janib are partially cut out, and providing removable portions for the reception of latch and lock bolts. Numerals I3 designate the cutout for reception of the latch bolt of a latch or lock member. It will be further noted that the lines of the cutout are interrupted by uncut portions 14 which provide means of holding the cut portions to the jarnb and which may be easily broken out by means of a chisel at the job if the door is to be provided with either a latch or a lock. Likewise, similar cutouts I5 are provided above and below the cutout I3 and providing for the reception of key bolts, should the lock being used be equipped with a bolt operable by means of a key or turn knob. The two cutouts 15 are provided with the interruptions I8 which provide means of holding the ctuouts in place until it is necessary to remove the same to provide for a key bolt. It will be further noted that the two cutouts I5, being located above and below the cutout I3 will permit the ends of the latch jamb to be reversed end for end with relation to the head member, and thereby providing alatch jamb for either a right hand or a left hand swing door by merely reversing the ends of the jamb member.

The rear flanges I of the jamb and head members are maintained in relative spaced relation by means of tie straps I'I secured thereto by means of welding. The tie straps have portions I8 partially cut permitting the'same to be bent or turned outwardly, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 16, and through which the frame can be rigidly secured to wood studs A by'means of nails 20 extending through the apertures I9 which are formed through the portions I8. When the frames are used in connection with masonry or metal stud wall construction, the portions I8 remain in their original positions, as shown in Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15. When the frame is used in connection with metal stud wall construction, the tie straps I! provide means for anchoring or securing the frames to the metal studs with wire ZI being drawn around the metal studs and the tie straps, as shown in Figure 14.

When the frames are to be used in connection with walls of masonry construction, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, anchorage of the frame into the masonry construction is provided by means of T-shaped anchors 22, with the cross member of the T being adapted to fit into the jamb and with the same bearing against the inwardlyturned flanges I of the frame, and with the stem portion of the anchor extending into a masonry joint.

The hinges, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 12, 13, and 14 have one leaf thereof extending through a slot formed in the jamb, and are securely welded thereto. It will be noted, from Figure 1, that the hinges are spaced equidistant from their respective ends 0 fthe jamb, which further provides for reversal of the jamb member.

It will be further noted, by reference to Figures 1, 5, 7, and 9, that the stop member 6 of the head member extends between the stop members 5 of the jambs, and thereby forms means gaging the distance between the upper ends of the jamb 1 members.

Although I have shown and described the preferred means of carrying out the principles of the invention, I desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described herein, but that minor changes may be made in the several details, insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having now shown and described the invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A formed metal door frame comprising in combination, a reversible hinge jamb member and a reversible latch jamb member, each of said jamb members having primary and secondary lugs formed at each end thereof with the lugs being formed of the same metal as the jamb members, with each of the primary lugs having an aperture formed therethrough, a head member adapted to extend across and between the upper ends of the jamb members with slotted apertures being formed through the head memher and adapted to register with both the primary lugs and the secondary lugs of the jamb members, with the primary lugs formed at the lower ends of the jamb members being adapted to be bent at their junctures with the jamb member and to be secured to a floor construction through the apertures formed therethrough, and with the secondary lugs formed at the lower ends of the jamb members being adapted to extend into a floor construction.

JAMES F. PEELLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,826,981 Baum Oct. 13, 1931 1,958,168 Mitchell May 8, 1934 1,995,764 Bohnsack Mar. 26, 1935 2,043,174 Jacobson June 2, 1936 2,284,012 Paca May 26, 1942 

